Marcus North, the 23-year-old left-handed batsman from Perth, is visiting Chennai as a part of a Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy training squad. Playing for the Academy in a recent three-day game against the Combined XI, North hit 152, defying the hot and humid conditions and the guile of local spinners on a turning track.

CricInfo caught up with the softly-spoken youngster at Chepauk after his masterly knock to find that he is as composed while speaking as he is during batting.

"I am having a great time. Obviously the conditions and lifestyle are much different to what I am used to back home. The cricket is pretty tough over here and the conditions are hot; it is a great learning experience. The track at Perth is probably the quickest and bounciest in the world. To come over here and play on a track that is a bit slow, keeps low and turning - it is all a part of the learning experience," he said.

North received the invitation to tour India a week after he had finalised his plans for the English summer. The youngster was quite happy to accept the offer to be a part of the touring side.

It is his second visit to Chennai. He was a member of the team that visited the city in 1999. Among the other players in that team were names such as Matthew Elliott and Matthew Hayden.

"It was a great experience playing with those guys. Hayden has adapted very well to Indian conditions and he made a lot of runs when the Aussies visited India last time. You look at him and try to learn off him as much as possible," North said.

The Western Australian middle order player missed out in the tour opener - the one-day match against Combined XI at the Guru Nanak College Grounds. But he was quick to hit his way back into form.

"It wasn't a good day for myself but as a team we did quite well," North said.

"It is great (now) to get a few runs here (at Chepauk) and to get an opportunity to bat at number three. The outfield is quick, so you get value for your runs," he continued.

North was quick to add that success on this tour is all about concentrating hard and getting through the heat, which often tires and drains players from abroad. The hot and humid conditions in Chennai also offer a completely different atmosphere for a player who is used to extremely dry summers in Perth.

Talking about growing up as a cricketer in Perth, North said, "The junior set-ups and the club teams are organised very well - through the ACB (Australian Cricket Board) and local cricket associations. The quality of coaching is very good. It (cricket) is a great sport to be involved in within a country like Australia."

North was quite candid about West Australia's performance in the domestic arena in recent years. He believes that the lack of title success is largely due to the fact that senior players like Justin Langer, Adam Gilchrist, Damien Martyn and even Simon Katich are usually away on national duty. North is, though, quick to admit that this has helped young cricketers like him to break into the state team.

Western Australia has always produced genuine fast bowlers but in recent times there have not been too many players breaking into the national side. North identified two fast bowlers from his state as the speed merchants who could make a difference.

"We have a young man called Brad Williams; he played his first one-day international this year against New Zealand. Blond hair, blue eyes - bowls very very quick, very similar to Brett Lee. Then, there is Matthew Nicholson, six-and-a-half-foot tall - he has played in one Test. The WACA is definitely the place to bowl quick."

Interestingly, there are two left-arm Western Australian wrist spinners among the 12 Academy players who are currently in Chennai, namely Beau Casson and Craig Simmons.

North said their appearances on this tour offered a reminder of the presence back at home of Brad Hogg, another left-arm leg spinner who made his international debut in India.

About his experience in India, North says, "I think it is fantastic. I love the food; Indian food tastes very nice and it makes the stay more enjoyable if you like the food. At the place where we are staying, the Madras Cricket Club, the facilities are fantastic. It makes the stay worthwhile."

After this tour, North will be heading to England for his fourth consecutive northern summer to play as a professional.

"I would rather be batting in a game than in the nets," he said.

The positive approach is there to be seen in his game as is the hunger to excel at the highest level.

When asked about the idea of visiting India as a part of an Australian development side and playing against quality spinners, North said, "If you look into the past, Australia has not done as well here as they have touring other countries. If the ACB wants to go that way, it won't be a problem for the players; it will be a great learning experience. It is definitely a great idea. It is always hard to face spin over here and then when you get to play a quality spinner, it makes it that much more difficult again."

North has already learnt a lot about cricket in the subcontinent, where the pitch affords a lot of turn, and all about the pressure the close-in fielders exert.

Though he has not yet seen the jam-packed stadiums in India (where the crowds make a lot of noise) nor faced the most crafty spinners from this part of the world, his visits to India have proved eye-openers. This young batsman would now really know the value of Dean Jones' legendary double hundred at Chennai over a decade ago, fighting all the odds in typical subcontinent conditions.

Getting an Australian Test cap is the most difficult thing for a cricketer these days. Marcus North has the hunger to learn and he also wants to do what Steve Waugh so desperately desired: to win a Test series in India.

"It will be great to tour India again."

© 2002 CricInfo Ltd